My grass is growing, now how high should I keep it mowed?  Recommended mowing heights differ depending on the grass type. Note that grass is generally mowed higher in summer and lower during wet, cool periods in spring and fall.

Recommended Mowing Heights in Inches

• Centipede Grass 1 ½ – 2 ½
• Bermuda Grass ½ – 1 ½
• St. Augustine 2 – 4
• Zoysia Grass ¾ – 2

Should you bag my clippings or leave them on the lawn? In most cases, the answer is easy: leave the clippings on the lawn! Leaving the clippings will save you time and energy, and it will return valuable nutrients to the lawn.  In addition to recycling nutrients back into the soil, leaving the clippings will cut down on your mowing time, and relieve you of the chores of emptying the grass catcher and hauling bags of clippings out to the curb.

There are a few things you can do to help keep your grass strong and looking good when you leave the clippings. Keep your mower blade sharp, and mow regularly at the recommended cutting height for your type of grass. Avoid mowing when the grass is wet. If the grass gets so long that mowing at your normal cutting height will remove more than one-third the length of the grass blades, raise the height on your mower. Mow once at the raised cutting height, then again in a different direction at the normal height.

There are some circumstances when collecting your grass clippings is necessary. If you see signs of lawn disease, pick up the clippings to avoid spreading the fungus.